By Davi Stuhlsatz

 MULVANE – The city council has agreed to provide land and water for a community garden to open next year.

“Our hope is to get the ground plotted, plowed, add some organic matter and get it ready for spring 2013,” said Don Wells, a master gardener and one of the organizers of the community garden. “The city came through with the ground and the water. That’s a big deal.”

Wells and Loretta Gerhardt presented the request to the council for an area just north of the swimming pool, off Webb Road.

Wells said plots would be around 10 feet by 20 feet each. Other details were still being worked out.

“We haven’t drawn up the bylaws yet,” he said. “We’re still in the process of getting organized. We’re going to tour some other community gardens first.”

Wells said there are different ways of setting up community gardens, and that this garden would probably have plots where individuals could plant whatever vegetables they wanted, care for the garden plot, and then use all produce themselves (or donate it, if they wish).

One concern Wells has is security and possible vandalism.

“Sometimes people help themselves to vegetables,” he said. “We may have to build a fence or building there. We would likely qualify for a $5,000 Kansas Health Foundation grant and other smaller grants, so we might get some help there.”

Wells said 12 people have already expressed interest in the garden, something he has thought about many times over the years.

“A community garden shows respect for citizens, it’s a healthy thing to do,” he said. “You can get a little exercise and have the benefits of fresh produce, while saving money. It’s great that the city is supporting this – it shows a real concern for the community’s well-being.”